Man found slain in Mission Valley a Navy officer

A man who was found dead in his Mission Valley apartment early Sunday was a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and newlywed who was serving on a San Diego-based missile cruiser, according to his family and military officials.

Jonathan Jake Tenorio — Facebook

He was identified as Ensign Jonathan Jake Tenorio, 25, of Guam. His brother, 21-year-old Zachary Castro Tenorio, was arrested in connection with his death, homicide Lt. Ernie Herbert said Tuesday. Tenorio was booked into jail about 6:30 p.m. Sunday after being taken into custody by San Diego police.

The father of the brothers, Joe Tenorio, told Pacific News Center in Guam that Zachary was in San Diego this past weekend for a jiu jitsu tournament. He said he had sent a text message to Jonathan asking him to wish Zachary luck in the competition.

Joe Tenorio told the news organization that San Diego police had notified him of Jonathan’s death but had asked him not to release any details. On Monday night, a family spokeswoman told U-T San Diego she could not confirm Zachary’s arrest. The family lives in Guam.

Jonathan graduated in May from the Naval Academy in Annapolis. A surface warfare officer, he had served on the cruiser Bunker Hill since August, a Navy spokesman said.

His roommate told San Diego police he woke up Sunday morning and found Jonathan dead in their River Front apartment on Camino De La Reina near Camino del Arroyo. Officers were sent to the apartment about 6:20 a.m. Blood was found inside, and the victim may have been stabbed, police homicide Lt. Ernie Herbert said.

Joe Tenorio told Pacific News Center that Jonathan was married last summer to Christine Santos, who works in Guam as an assistant attorney general.

“He’s very respectful,” Tenorio said about Jonathan in a video posted online by the news organization. “He has a beautiful wife, and she’s very respectful also. We’re a very, very close tight-knit family.”

He said Jonathan’s wife had recently returned home after spending the holidays with her husband.

Joe Tenorio said this is the second time he has lost a son; his oldest son died nine years ago, but he did not say how. A 14-year-old son still lives at home.